Since October 2009, BlackBerry has slowly but steadily been losing sales through Verizon Wireless. Verizon has been focusing a great deal of their advertisements on Android handsets. The graph above (and shown in full below), by ITG Investment Research, illustrates BlackBerry’s 45% drop on Verizon over the last year, with a forecast for being down 49% in the fourth quarter. Considering BlackBerry at one point accounted for over 90% of Verizon’s smartphone sales and are now under 20%, says a lot about the growing Android market.

Many BlackBerry owners have been disgruntled over the slow boot time and the often recommended battery pulls on their devices. For some users, It may be difficult to ignore Android’s slick interface and full touch screens. Time will tell however, how tough Androids are down the road. Many die-hard BlackBerry users stay with the brand for security and durability reasons.

How about you? Is the lure of ad campaigns enough to sway dependability and durability? Let us know. We’d love to hear from you.

That lure hit me awhile back.I jumped to the droid incredible months ago from the storm 2. The only thing I miss is the lightening fast push email, but that is it. Everything else is light years ahead of BB. If RIM had dropped the storm 3 with QNX, hands down I would have stayed with BB. Their lack of foresight cost them another customer.

12-10-2010, 05:45 PM

kalyhan

I've heard the Storm 3 is on the horizon though. Can't say for sure, but there's talk anyway.

12-10-2010, 05:55 PM

paspals

every1 who knows a little bit of history has heard of the roman-empire... the self-contemplary way of life killed them! that's whats happenin to nokia, here in eu(+allaroundtheworld), and to bb in usa(+allaroundtheworld)... i believe the next year we'll see some interesting battles, probably late from rim's point(this can be considered 4 other manufctrs aswell) in gaining consumers with "new,smart products" but the facts will be simple, applez n andro will battle for the top, win7 n symba for runners satisfaction and the big-fat greek called mike with his overpayed lobotomized friends will still mumbo-jumbo with rappers delight...

12-10-2010, 06:37 PM

kalyhan

While I'm a die-hard BlackBerry user, I do believe without a doubt that Android will take iPhone out of the competition eventually. Apple is notorious for limiting their users - do things their way or jailbreak your device. Android and Google are all about open sourcing.

12-10-2010, 07:30 PM

Joe Jerde

I agree that Android will be a top competitor, but open sourcing has it's downfalls. For example, just take a look at the Android app store. Developers are hesitant to design their top apps for Android because there are just too many devices to account for. It's the same reason that generally a program that is designed for a Mac has less issues than a program designed for a PC. When a developer designs a app for a iPhone, they know exactly what they are designing for, but for a Android, they now have to take into account many older and newer devices at once.

Bottom line in my opinion, and as much as I love BB, Apple wipes them all away when the iPhone hits the Verizon shelves.

12-10-2010, 10:00 PM

kalyhan

Oh nice Joe, lol! While I do own an iPod Touch primarily for a reading device, I would be hesitant to buy any other "i" device. I have a thing against any company that says "you can't upgrade your storage space". I like big storage cards!

Yes, I believe iPhones will surge in sales once they hit Verizon. But after the "new-toy" mentality wears off, I think Android will eventually rule. What hasn't Google taken over?

I think in time, developers will improve apps for the Android - the device OS has only been in public hands for such a short time. Its just my opinion anyway.

12-11-2010, 12:46 AM

Joe Jerde

Maybe I'm being a bit to harsh. But I know for sure that if BlackBerry doesn't get the new OS QNX out to some devices soon, then it's over for RIM being a long term competitor.

12-11-2010, 07:13 AM

munchkinsdad

Take off those blinders RIM! You are too slow and too late. Even if an S3 (still not good enough) finally DOES make an appearance...people are already focusing on other smartphone options. Why? Because they are available now. If I'm overly frustrated still trying to make use of the darn 9550 with a shattered screen and 10 min boot time and overall slow performance, I guarantee just about everyone else is too. My patience is almost gone. But even so I am STILL holding back hoping for SOMETHING new from RIM! DARNIT!

But on the bright side, I do know quite a few people who have jumped ship to android and didn't like it, calling it a "toy", and came right back within a month. I think that may be why I persevere in my BB trials.

12-11-2010, 11:00 AM

kalyhan

I moved from the Curve to the HTC Hero before my 9650 and I didn't care for the virtual keyboard. I like the keyboard on my bb - I know what I'm typing (well, unless really rushed). I'll admit the "prettiness" of the Android phones, but I also like knowing my bb can take a fall and the abuse I put it through, which is why I have a 9650.